Synchronizer for rotary devices



Sept. 1, 1931. A. F CONNERY SYNGHRCNIZER FOR ROTARY DEVICES Filed Oct. 7, 1929 w a P w a mm ii mm h 6 ,ml 2 8% Q fin g.= =55 M 5 V 2 V 1 ,7

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE ALDER F. CONNERY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK SYNCHRONIZER FOR ROTARY DEVICES Application filed October 7, 1929. Serial No. 397,907.

This invention relates to telegraph systems employing synchronized transmitters and receivers. Printing telegraph systems, such as this invention is to be used incon- 5 nection with, comprise two or more commutators or distributors with means for maintaining them substantially in synchronism with each other.

It has heretofore been customary to employ rather complicated electrical circuits in connection with synchronizing devices, requiring the useaof locking and unlocking relays. Such systems are adapted to correct whenever the necessity for correction exists. That is, the correcting mechanism may operate several times during a single revolution of the brushes if impulses pass through to'the corrector magnet. There is considerable disadvantage in this method for there are times when there may be a radical disturbance to the signals for short intervals, such as might be caused by swinging wires in a storm when the wires touch each other or a grounded object. When an abnormal number of corrections occur when the signals are so distorted, it will result in the distributors being thrown out of synchronism with each other.

In some printing telegraph systems, synchronizing impulses are transmitted at certain times and in this way the corrector mechanism at the correcting station is only operated when the brushes are in synchronizing position. The disadvanta e of this system is, that a certain part 0 the line time is given up to the transmission of synchronizing impulses which reduces the systems capacity for carrying message traffic.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple mechanical correcting system which will function without locking relay circuits, and which will only correct a limited number of times during each revolution of. the distributor. The corrector is operated from the regular printer signals which eliminates the loss of transmission time which occurs when special synchronizing signals are transmitted.

Referring to the drawing. A main line relay which is operated by signals from a distant station is shown at 11. As relay 11 operates it controls a relay 15 which'in turn operates a break relay 2O whenever the tongue of relay 15 is on its contact 18. An unsegmented distributor ring 26 is associated, with a brush 25 and a segmented ring 57. Brush 25 connects the segments of ring 57 with ring 26 as it rotates. The segments 58 of ring 57 are connected together by a conductor 27 which is connected to the corrector magnet 29. Between the segments 58 are insulated segments 59 which are not used in any circuit. The fly wheel 31 of a distributor is fastened to its shaft 32. A member 51 carrying brush 25 and a gear -is arranged to rotate freely on shaft 32. Shaft 32 has affixed to it a inember 46 which carries a bearing through which is thrust a shaft 48. At one end of shaft 48, a pinion 49 is in mesh with gear 50.. There is a star wheel 47 at the other end of shaft 48. The star wheel is normally prevented from rotating by a detent roller 54 which is pressed against the teeth of 47 by spring 53 which is attached to 46 by a suitable support 55. Shaft 32 carries a cam 44' which is afiixed to the shaft by a pin 43. This cam is arranged to engage a cam follower 38 which carries a correcting pin 40. The cam follower is normally held away from the cam by the armature 35 of "corrector magnet 29 which engages a flange 36 on 38.v The correcting pin 10 is free to bemoved longitudinally in its supporting block 41 by the cam follower 38. WVhen the correct-0r magnet 29 is operated or is energized it will attract its armature 35 which will disengage from 36 permitting spring to pull cam follower 38 into the path of cam 44: and at the same time cor.- rector pin 40 will be moved into the path of star wheel 47.

This invention operates as follows:

Corrector relay 15 is operated by line relay 11 which responds to signals from the transmitting distributor at a distant station. Each time the tongue of relay 15 makes contact with its contact 18 which is connected to a source-of positive potential 61, a current flows through the coils of relay 20 through resistance 19 to ground. The action of relay 2() is retarded somewhat by the adjustable resistance 19 and its armature spring 62,,

so for each impulse from the corrector relay, ring 26 will be connected for an instant, (until relay 20 has time to respond,) with positive potential 59, the circuit being from ring 26, conductor 22, armature 56, contact 21, conductors 24 and 23, relay tongue 16, contact 18 to positive potential 61. The

length of the impulses which pass throughrelation, brush 25 will be over one of the insulated segments 59 at the instant of each impulse from the corrector relay, and before brush 25 can pass on to one of the conducting segments of ring 57, the break relay 25 20 will have attracted its armature breaking the circuit to ring 26. But if at the instant that the tongue of relay 15 makes with its contact 18, brush 25 is over a segment 58 whichmay occur when the two distributors are not in proper phase relation, a circuit Will be eompletedfrom the source of potential 61, contact 18, and tongue 16 of relay 15, conductors 23 and 24, contact 21 and armature 56 of relay 20, conductor 22, ring 26,

brush 25, segment 58, conductors 27 and 28, through magnet 29 and thence to ground at Corrector magnet 29 is a very quick acting magnet, and immediately upon the clos ing of the circuit just traced, the armature 35 will be attracted, releasing cam follower 38, and spring will then pull the cam fol-.

lower into the path of the resetting cam 44, and correcting pin 40 will be then in a position to engage one of the teeth of star wheel '47 as it is rotated about shaft 32. As the teeth of star wheel 47 strikes 40, the star wheel will be rotated slightly, the detent roller 54 will be forced out of its former position so that it will rest between the next pair of teeth on the star wheel. The rotation of the star wheel will also rotate shaft 48 and pinion 49 the same angular distance, and since 49 is in mesh with gear 50, brush 25 will be retarded a certain angular distance in relation to its former position. After the star wheel has passed corrector pin 40, cam 44 will cause 38 to withdraw 40 from the path of -the star wheel and cam follower 25 merger said correcting mechanism when said member is inoperative position, means constantly tending to move said member into operative position, resetting means for moving said member into inoperative position, a latch for holding said member in inoperative-position, and electro-magnetic means for releasing said latch.

2. ln a synchronizing system and in combination, a distributor having a speed correcting mechanism, a correcting member arranged. to actuate said correcting mechanism when said member is in operative position, means constantly tending to move said member into operative position, re-setting means for moving said member into inoperative position, a latch for holding said member in inoperative position and ,electro-magnetic means operable by the printing signals for releasing said latch, said electro-magnetic means being arranged to operate as soon as the need for correction occurs.

In a telegraph system, a distributor having a speed correcting mechanism, a correcting member arranged to actuate said correcting mechanism when said member is in operative position, means constantly tending to move said member into operative position, re-setting means for moving said member into inoperative position, a latch for holding said member in inoperative position, a corrector magnet operable by printing signal impulses for releasing said latch, said corrector magnet being arranged to re lease said latch as soon as the need for correction occurs, said corrector mechanism thereafter operating only at an invariable point in relation to its cycle of rotation.

4. In a synchronizing system, a plurality of distributors having their respective brushes rotating in synchronism, speed correcting mechanism for one of said brushes, a correcting member arranged to actuate said correcting mechanism when said member is in operative position, means entirely mechanical for moving said member into operative position.

5. In a telegraph synchronzing system, a plurality of distributors having their respective brushes rotating in synchronism,

speed correcting mechanism for one of said brushes, a correcting member arranged to actuate said correcting mechanism when said member is in operative position, means entirely mechanical for moving said member into operative position, and for re-setting said member.

ALDER F. CONNERY. 

